A man from Australia received a $1,500 fine after a video in which he is seen surfing with his pet snake went viral on social media.
+ Expert gives tips to calm your dog during the holiday season
+ Strong Images: video shows dog and snake in a life-or-death duel
Higor Fiuza took Shiva, his pet carpet python, to surf at Rainbow Bay beach in Australia. “She swims a bit and then gets back on the board, just cruising waiting for a wave, for the perfect wave,” he told 9News.
However, the clip quickly caught the attention of wildlife authorities, who issued the $1,500 fine to Fiuza in mid-September. According to Jonathan McDonald, senior wildlife officer at Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science, although Fiuza had the proper authorization to care for the python, he did not have a special license to travel freely with the snake.
“We do not want permit holders to be displaying their native animals in public unless it is done for a specific approved purpose and in a way that best provides for the welfare of the animal, the safety of the public and complies with the relevant codes,” he said in a statement.
“Taking native pets out in public can cause the animals unnecessary stress, and they can behave in an unpredictable way when they are removed from their enclosures,” McDonald added at the time.
